Hand-operated shovel.



K. STiMECZ.

HAND OPERATED SHOVEL. APPLICATION FILED AUG-9.1916.

1 fifi'fi Patented June 12, 1917.

KARL STIlVIECZ, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

HAND-OPERATED SI-IOVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1917.

Application filed August 9, 1916. Serial N 0. 114,004.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL S'rnuncz, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-0perated Shovels,- of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to hand operated shovels and more specifically to an intrenching tool.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an intrenching tool which includes a digging element or spade blade on one end of a handle and a percussion tool or pickax on the other end of the handle, tog ether with an attrition or cutting saw blade within the handle; the construction and arrangement of parts be ing such that when the implement is ar ranged for the use of the spade in digging,

the saw blade is locked within the handle and the pickax constitutes a continuation of the handle. p

A further object of this invention is to construct an intrenchin tool of the character specified and wherem tools for digging, cutting and sawing are conjointly and effectively combined in small compass without reducing the effective function of any one of the operative elements.

A still further and more specific object of the present invention is to provide an intrenching tool of the character specified wherein a plurality of different character tools are mounted upon a common handle, and in such relation that during the use of certain tools other tools may be adjusted to form suitable hand holds and continuations of a common hand hold for all the tools.

Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating the pickaX or mattock locked in operative position.

Fig. 4 is a detail view looking at the un derside of the pickax or, mattock when it is locked in inoperative position.

Fig; 5 is a detail view showing the arrangement of the parts for locking the shovel blade to the handle.

The work, of intrenchment, depending upon conditions, often requires the use of picks, axes, and saws as well as the use of spades and shovels. Itis customary to provide these various implements as separate individual tools. The provision of separate tools necessarily includes a multiplication of parts and particularly of handles since each tool obviously requires a handle. Varione compound or combined tools, including spades, have been designed wherein detachable parts are constructed to be secured to a common handle. In all such tools of the prior art, so far as applicant is aware, the addition of the operative elementsmore or less interferes with the function and operation of certain other elements and does not assist or facilitate the use of the main tool, such asfin the present case, the spade or shovel.

1 The present invention overcomes the difficulties encountered in the prior known art by constructing and arranging the parts of the several operative elements in such manner that they assist in facilitating the use of the spade or shovel which is the main or. principal tool used in intrenchment work. To this end, the percussion element comprising a pickax or mattock is pivotally secured to the shovel handle in such manner that the pickax may be adjusted to comprise a continuation of the handle and to form a handhold for guiding the spade as it is being forced into the earth. Moreover, this main handle constitutes a suitable grip for utilizing the saw when it is brought to operative position after the spade blade is re moved. Furthermore, when the shovel blade is removed and the pickax or mattock is locked in operative position this tool is as much a substantial entity as though it were not constructed to conform to an auxiliary use such as being the handle for the spade.

.Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, the handle 1 which may be of wood or other suitable material,

. is provided on its lower end with a metal ferrule or reinforcement 2 and which is provided with a conical depression or recess 4: that is adapted to be engaged by the conical point 5 of the thumb screw 6 mounted on the front or upper side of the shank or socket 7 that carries the spade or shovel blade 8. The shank 7 is provided with a suitable cylindrical recess that snugly fits over the metal ferrule or reinforcement 2. Preferably the relationship of the location of the conical depression 4 on the ferrule 2 and the thumb screw on the socket 7 is such that by tightening the thumb screw a wedging action will be exerted which tends to seat the shank or socket 7 securely against the end of the metal ferrule 2 thereby making a rigid connection between the handle 1 and the spade or shovel blade 8. The lower end of the handle 1 is slotted as at 9 and a saw blade 10 is pivoted as at 11 within the ferrule 2 so that the saw blade normally is retained within the slot 9 by means of a flat spring 12 that bears against the flat side of the saw adjacent the pivotal point 11. Furthermore, the shank or socket 7 extends over the saw blade in such manner as to prevent the blade from leaving the slot 9 when the spade blade is in position upon the handle. This construction insures that the hand of the user will not be injured by being brought in violent contact against the end of the saw blade when the hand is moved along the handle as is usual in the use or operation of a spade or shovel. The saw blade 10, when the shank 7 carrying the spade 8 is removed, is adapted to be swung on its pivot, like the blade of a pocket knife, to occupy a position substantially diametrically opposite to the folded position. The saw blade is held in this position for use by means of the flat spring 12 in the same manner that the back spring of a knife retains the blade of the knife extended when the knife is open. In order to facilitate the use of the foot for forcing the blade into the earth or other material to be spaded, suit able shelves or foot rests 14 are provided on the upper outer edges of the blade.

The upper end of the handle is also preferably fitted with a metallic member which may comprise a metal ferrule 15 that carries a flat extension in the nature of a tongue 16 which extends outwardly from the metal ferrule with a portion of said tongue, as at 17, extending slightly beyond the side line of the handle. A pickax or mattock 18 is provided with a suitable socket 19 the side walls of which accurately fit the side walls of the tongue 16. A pivot pin 20 passes through the pickax. and through the portion 17 of the tongue 16 so that the pickax may be swung upon this pivot pin 20 in such manner that the pick or hoe blade 21 engages the side of the handle 1, as illustrated in Fig. 1. When in this position the ax blade 22 extends substantially in line with the handle 1. The ax blade is slightly curved on the top as at 2% and .is undercut as at 25, in order to provide a natural and suitable hand grip for use in holding or guiding the spade blade as it is forced into the earth, or for use in holding the lsaw blade to prevent turning and to facilitate the reciprocatory movement of the saw blade when it is in use. A suitable locking pin 26 is adapted to fit within an opening through the pickax eye and when the pickaxis in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 1 this locking pin 26 is immediately above the end of the tongue 16 in such manner as to lock the ax securely in this folded or extended position. While in this extended position the ax may be operated as a pole ax, that is, by thrusting the ax forward under the force of the blow and the momentrun of the mass comprising the shovel handle, etc., it may be effectively used for cutting small bushes and roots, etc. lVhen the pickax is turned to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 the locking pin 26 passes through and is in engagement with the walls of the opening 27 provided in the upper end of the tongue 16. It will be seen that the locking pin when passing through the opening 27 securely and rigidly locks the pickax at substantially right angles to the handle whereby the ax or pick may be used in the normal way. When so used preferably the spade is removed and the flat spring 12 is relied upon to main tain the saw blade 10 within the slot 9. In order to prevent loss or removal of the locking pin a small slide 28 is provided to engage an annular groove cut in the end of the pin whereby when the slide is in the position shown in Fig. 3 the pin is securely locked in place. In order to facilitate the carrying of this tool I preferably provide a sling or holster which comprises a'pocket 29 that receives the spade blade and a cap 30 that fits over the ax blade. The pocket and the cap are joined together by straps 31 and 32, one of which is provided with a spring clip 34 which is adapted to be atsion formed in one side adapted to constitute a hand hold, and having a relatively fiat portion constituting a rest for the hand of the user.

2. A handle for tools comprising a relatively straight portion, means for securing the tool in position thereon, and a tool member pivotally mounted on the opposite end from said first mentioned tool and adapted to constitute a continuation of said handle or extend at substantially right angles thereto, said member being gradually enlarged toward one end to form a hand hold, and having a flat portion constituting a rest for the hand of the user.

3. A handle for tools comprising a relatively straight portion adapted to receive the tool on one end, means for detachably securing the tool in position thereon, a tool member pivotally mounted on the opposite end of said portion and adapted to constitute a continuation thereof or to extend at substantially right angles thereto, and means for locking said member in either position, said member being gradually enlarged toward one end to form a hand hold, and having a fiat portion constituting a rest for the hand of the user.

KARL STIMEOZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of :Eatents,

' Washington, D. G. 

